Charity Woo and the Intruder
Two major things had changed after the appointment ceremony. One was that I'd picked up a nickname. Charity Woo. Not a fan. The ring of it was all wrong. Especially since Legba had snickered the first time he heard it, which made me hate it even more.
"Alright, next question... Let's go with Seon-woo, the Holy Mark bearer this time."
"This one's about Do Seon-woo, who was late to the appointment ceremony~"
"So, when these two substances combine, what happens? It's the glorious latecomer Do Seon-woo—"
The other change was how often teachers called my name now. Between showing up late to the first ceremony and barely scraping by with another tardy at the second—earning me the Charity Holy Mark in the end—I'd somehow become infamous among the faculty.
The silver lining? My reputation had skyrocketed after it came out that I'd saved civilians during the Basar Shopping Mall fire.
"Oh, it's Woo. Where you headed?"
"To eat, sir."
"Yeah? How's the cafeteria food? Decent?"
"Yes, it's good."
I'd even gotten close enough to Chairman Kim Chang-won of Florence Academy for short chats whenever we crossed paths. He was known for being kind-hearted but ignoring student greetings, so probably only Kim Jin-seo and I could pull off natural conversations like that.
"...I've never seen the chairman smile before."
Jeong In-ah, heading to the cafeteria with me, said it with a puzzled look. She whipped her head around dramatically, staring back and forth between me and Kim's retreating figure. Her hair swayed, wafting a fresh floral shampoo scent my way.
"I helped out a lot when he was hospitalized."
"Really? ...Right, the hospital! You. I told you to call me, but you didn't after discharge. How many times did I say it?"
"Haven't bought a phone yet."
"No excuses. And you didn't even tell me you saved people at the mall. You never tell me anything. It's annoying."
Jeong In-ah pouted.
"Your shampoo smells nice. What is it?"
"Don't change the subject! You've gotten so sly since the ceremony, you little fox."
"Why get mad? I really like it and wanted to know."
"...Not telling you. What do you care anyway? It's not like you're buying it."
We bickered all the way to the cafeteria. Gu Jun-hyeok was still at the hospital tending to his mom, so it ended up just In-ah and me eating together.
Even while eating, she'd glance up and glare now and then. I'd smile back each time. A smile to mask my expression.
Seeing In-ah always reminded me of her sister, Jeong Yun-ah. Since the succession ritual, I'd been trying daily treatments with my enhanced voodoo magic and spells. She no longer screamed at the sight of people like before, but she was still stuck in zombie mode.
It'll work out soon...
I nodded vaguely at Legba's consolation and set down my utensils. My appetite had vanished.
I tidied my half-eaten tray and watched In-ah finish hers. She ate neatly and enjoyably, bit by bit—it was always fun watching.
"Don't stare like that."
"So many things I can't do..."
"If I say don't, then don't. Kids keep making weird rumors!"
In-ah said something baffling. I tilted my head.
"What rumors?"
"Curious? Dying to know? Not telling you."
"Whatever."
"...Ugh."
She bit her lip, dropped her gaze, and finished eating in silence.
I had no idea what rumors were floating around school— I'd been absent for ten days. But from her tone, it didn't seem too bad.
*
Heading back to class from the cafeteria, I ran into her by chance.
"Just finished eating, huh."
Kim Jin-seo said. Her face was a bit flushed, but her voice was calm. Breathing a little heavy—probably from working out. A few sweat-damp strands clung to her hair.
Post-workout, she looked sharper, more honed than usual.
"Working out?"
"Just lapped the field a bit?"
She glanced at In-ah as she spoke. I followed her gaze. In-ah's body had tensed up for some reason.
Jin-seo eyed her lazily, then shifted to me.
"...You two dating?"
"Huh? No?"
No clue why she'd assume that. Jin-seo let out a small laugh at my answer. Clear and pure, like the smile she'd given me in the hospital.
"Yeah, figured."
Figured what? No idea.
She nodded and continued.
"Oh, meeting tomorrow morning. Student council room at 7."
"...That early?"
"Lots to talk about, apparently. Her."
Her meaning Yeo Min-seo, obviously. Jin-seo rarely said her name. Like she hated uttering it.
Considering their history, I got it.
She kept smiling, glancing between In-ah and me.
"Sorry about 'the other day.' Showing up suddenly."
"'The other day'?"
I echoed her words. Something off about the phrase nagged at me, though I couldn't pinpoint why.
Anyway, it probably meant after her discharge. When her driver took off suddenly as we were heading home together, no proper goodbye.
I smiled to show it was fine.
"No big deal. Wasn't on purpose."
"Next time, together."
"Uh? Sure."
No clue when next time was, but okay.
A brief silence fell. None of us—me, Jin-seo, In-ah—spoke.
Weird quiet.
Finally, Jin-seo said "Gotta go" with a small wave and left. Toward the school gym. Workout, then more workout.
"She's dedicated."
I murmured at her back.
Jin-seo had always trained hard, but lately even more. Ask what she's up to? Nine times out of ten, training or studying.
Come to think of it, I hadn't trained once since discharge. Time to start again.
Building stamina reduced Loa power backlash, even slightly boosted total voodoo magic.
Couldn't overcome innate limits, but better than nothing.
"Heard she's been super intense with workouts lately. Like, aggressively so. Since discharge."
In-ah piped up suddenly.
"Impressive."
"B-but I'm studying hard too. Really hard."
"And?"
"You're doing it on purpose."
I tilted my head innocently. Playing dumb, but yeah, teasing on purpose. In-ah's reactions were fun—great bang for buck.
"...So, when was 'the other day'?"
After glaring forever, In-ah asked.
"The other day? Dunno."
"Don't play dumb. When? What'd you two do."
"Not telling you."
She stared blankly, incredulous. Then pouted, hurt and mad, eyes dropping. Fists clenched tight, trembling at her sides.
This could end badly, I thought.
"Ugh...!"
Predictably, she kicked at my shin. I dodged. More kicks came; I evaded them all.
Easier than expected.
After dodging every one, tears welled in her eyes.
"Why... won't you get hit...?"
"H-hey, why? This isn't cry-worthy!"
"It's unfair. And I'm not crying."
She wiped her eyes. Caught off guard, I panicked and soothed her hastily.
Her moods swung wildly—bad to good in a flash, or vice versa. Convenient sometimes, tricky others. Like now.
"Suddenly squeezing out tears..."
"I said I'm not crying!"
A bit calmer, I teased again; she yelled.
I startled back.
"O-okay, got it."
"Too fast for no reason. Jun-hyeok takes every hit. And you always tease, never apologize."
"Sorry, sorry. Won't tease anymore. Stop crying..."
I fumbled to console her. Right in the middle of the field—stares from all sides.
Never imagined a little teasing would lead to tears. Should've taken one kick.
Wait—Jun-hyeok always took them. His reflexes could've dodged easy; her kicks were simple.
...On purpose?
"Suddenly craving ice cream. Buy me some."
"Sure, after school."
"Okay."
In-ah nodded, smiling. Mood flipped; she was giggling now.
*
That evening, I tested the Mighty Strength Blessing from the ceremony.
Florence Elder Council had sent a manual: Pope's Spear: Mighty Strength Blessing.
Key points boiled down to this:
Mighty Strength Blessing grants fluidity to strength.
Feel and direct the flow of power in your body. With mastery, interfere with others' flows via the wrist.
Cannot steal others' strength. But can forcibly reclaim power you've lent.
What surprised me most during testing was this 'power redirection.'
Crack!
"Whoa..."
Brick shards rained down. I'd crushed it with grip strength alone—no Bosu's power. Just the blessing.
Shifted all power to my grip: legs buckled, neck weakened, head lolled. But concentrating leg and neck strength into my right arm let pure grip pulverize the brick.
Combat utility? Doubtful. Tough even for daily life pre-mastery.
Ask ex-Charity Saint Bae Seong-hyeon for tips? Nah, crossed the line.
I shook my head.
[Uncannily like Preservation. Inferior, but similar.]
"Yeah, a bit."
Preservation gave super strength and perfect body control. Same idea: 'control over strength.'
Performance-wise, Preservation crushed it. Blessing was a papal fragment; Preservation was whole.
The manual detailed Charity Saint perks too.
Unlimited sacred relic loans.
Dorm students: free outings.
Free cafeteria/cafe use.
Free sparring in Holy Training Ground.
Elective minors.
...And more.
Charity perks seemed juicier—probably the donation to Florence Foundation.
One caught my eye longest:
"...Central Library access."
The staff-only Central Library. 'Florence Central' for short. Legendary among students.
Rumors: every exam key here; 6,000-page Romanica/Florence history tome; secret founding docs.
That last one intrigued me most. Could explain the mystery box on Eden Hill.
"Total corruption."
[Half your life's wasted.]
Perks for the Seven Holy Marks—especially Charity—were corrupt-level.
Even got Bae Seong-hyeon's elitism a bit. Not the bullying, though.
Thud.
Closed the book, stood. Test-engraved a spell circle into it. Open the book, activate the spell—'engraving' voodoo onto objects.
Like Dad did with the ring and box.
[Strictly, not the same.]
"Just let it slide."
Legba nitpicked. I gave a wry smile.
True—not identical. Mine was amateur imitation. Dad infused spells; I engraved circles triggered by conditions.
Learned post-succession via practice. Huge step: embedding spells in objects.
Mastery levels? Still clueless.
Engraved Dad's ring too, then left the room.
The empty Worship Hall felt desolate. Unease prickled.
"..."
Click.
Faint metallic clink, dry and hard—like metal on metal.
Hairs stood on end. Crouched, listened.
Click, click... Clank. Screeech...
Sharp, ominous sounds pierced the silence. Picking a lock.
[Lee Jin-seong?]
I shook my head. Uncle had keys. If lost, he'd call me to open up. No reason to pick it.
Tap, tap, tap.
Footsteps followed. Careful, heels raised.
[...Not him. Intruder. After you.]
Chill in Legba's tone. I nodded silently.
Pope's forces, assassin—whoever, they wanted me dead.
Tap, tap, tap...
Steps neared. Heart raced.
Tap, tap...
Stayed calm, focused. Gauged spacing, numbers.
Tap...
One or two max. Probably one—not tight rhythm.
Creak!
Door opened. Peered—nothing but pitch black.
[Duck!]
Legba bellowed. Something hurtled from the dark.
A dagger.
Thunk!
It arced, sank into my shoulder. Pain shot to my toes.
Clack, clack...
Heeled steps echoed. Black-masked man narrowed eyes, approaching.
One man. As expected.
Gripped the hilt, yanked.
"...!"
Pain so fierce no scream escaped.
Yet... I laughed. Odd thought looping:
One enemy. Not crisis—opportunity.
(To be continued)